On October 8, 2024, the annual meeting of the Argo Poland consortium took place at the Academic Center for Underwater Technology in Gdynia.
Representatives from the consortium's member institutions attended the event, including the Institute of Oceanology PAN, the Polish Naval Academy of the Heroes of Westerplatte and the Institute of Geophysics PAN.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current matters, review the progress of the ongoing project, and outline plans for the coming year.
Thanks to the courtesy of Commander Adam Olejnik, Head of the Department of Underwater Work Technologies at the Naval Academy, we had the opportunity to tour the newly established Center.
He guided us through the facility, providing a detailed overview of its equipment and the history of its creation.
The modernity and technological advancement of this research center made a great impression on us.
Photos: Małgorzata Merchel, AMW
Argo in the Shallow Seas workshop
From September 24th to 26th, 2024, the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences will host a working meeting of teams operating Argo floats in the Baltic Sea and other shallow waters.
Participants from Finland, Germany, and Denmark are expected to attend.
The workshop will focus on the following topics:
Day 1: Operation of Argo floats in shallow waters and coordination of activities in the Baltic Sea.
Day 2: Quality control of Argo data.
Day 3: Technical challenges associated with working in shallow waters and new ideas for using Argo floats.
We welcome all individuals interested in enhancing their knowledge of this cutting-edge research tool. Attendees are encouraged to collaborate, present their own data, and share methods for working with Argo floats and data.
The workshop is organized by the Argo-Poland consortium. Sessions will begin each day at 9:30 AM in the seminar rooms of the Institute.
Photo: IOPAN
In early July 2024, two core Argo floats (WMO 7902197, 7902196) were launched in the Nordic Seas from the IOPAN research vessel r/v Oceania. The devices are ARVOR-I type with the Iridium data transmission system, which, in addition to standard CTD measurements, also measure oxygen dissolved in water.
At the same time, IOPAN deployed Biogeochemical Argo (BGC Argo) (WMO 7902195) in the Arctic region for the first time. In addition to standard CTD measurements, our BGC Argo measures four additional seawater properties:
concentration of oxygen dissolved in water,
chlorophyll-a concentration,
irradiation,
CDOM.
The float was also launched from the board of r/v Oceania. The device is the PROVOR type with the Iridium data transmission system.
Photos: Karolina Gorn
On May 28, 2024, the Argo float (WMO 7902194) was launched in the Bornholm Deep, from the board of the IOPAN research vessel r/v Oceania. The float is the ARVOR-I type with an Iridium data transmission system.
In addition to standard CTD measurements, the float will also measure dissolved oxygen content in the water.
Photos: IOPAN
The Argo-Poland Consortium has been deploying Argo floats in the Baltic Sea for years. Alongside Finland, Poland is a pioneer in using these floats in shallow, enclosed waters. The near real-time data transmitted is well-suited for monitoring the depths of the Baltic Sea. Once again, there is confirmation of this as an inflow of salty, well-oxygenated waters into the Southern Baltic has been observed.
In September 2023, from the deck of the r/v Oceania, the Argo-Poland consortium, operating within the European Research Infrastructure Consortium Euro-Argo ERIC, launched the autonomous profiling float Argo WMO1902682 in the Bornholm Basin. In January 2024, the float recorded elevated salinity and an exceptionally high level of oxygenation in the near-bottom layer of water east of the Danish island Bornholm.
At the geographical longitude of 15.6°E, this inflow of salty water (over 17 PSU) and highly oxygenated water (over 300 micromol/kg) occurred on January 9, 2024.
Earlier, on December 23, 2023, the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) reported an increase in salinity throughout the water column observed at the MARNET station in the Darss Sill region (Danish Straits) and elevated salinity in the southwestern Baltic.
Data transmitted by the float can be observed and downloaded through the website:
- ARGO Float 1902682 - Argo Fleet Monitoring (euro-argo.eu). Four Polish floats, two in the Bornholm Basin and two in the Gdańsk Deep, are monitoring the situation's development.
The Institute of Oceanology PAN has been participating in the Euro-Argo program for years, launching Argo floats in the European Arctic and the Baltic Sea. On September 24, 2023, the Argo-Poland consortium, of which IOPAN is the leader, deployed Biogeochemical Argo (BGC Argo) (WMO 1902683) for the first time.
It is a much more complicated device than a core float. In addition to standard CTD measurements, our BGC Argo measures four additional seawater properties:
dissolved oxygen concentration,
chlorophyll-a concentration,
irradiance,
CDOM.
The float was deployed from the board of r/v Oceania in the Gdansk Deep. The device is the PROVOR type with the Iridium data transmission system. We invite everyone willing to cooperate.
On September 22, 2023, the Argo float (WMO 1902682) was launched in the Bornholm Deep, from the board of the IOPAN research vessel r/v Oceania. The float is the ARVOR-I type with an Iridium data transmission system.
In addition to standard CTD measurements, the float will also measure dissolved oxygen content in the water.
Photos: Daniel Rak
At the end of June 2023, two Argo floats (WMO 3902119, 3902118) were launched in the Nordic Seas from the board of r/v Oceania. The floats are ARVOR-I type with Iridium data transmission system. In addition to standard CTD measurements, the floats will also measure dissolved oxygen in the water.
On June 8, 2023, thanks to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Education and Science (MEiN) and the Polish community of sea and ocean researchers, Poland became a full member of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (Euro-Argo ERIC).
Since 2014, Poland has participated in the work of Euro-Argo ERIC as an observer. Financing of Polish participation is provided by the MEiN under the program "Support for the participation of Polish research teams in international research infrastructure projects".
At the scientific level, Poland is represented in Euro-Argo ERIC by the Argo-Poland consortium, which includes:
Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences - coordinator;
Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences;
Polish Naval Academy of the Heroes of Westerplatte.
On May 28, 2023, the Argo float (WMO 7901091) was launched in the Gdańsk Deep, from the IOPAN r/v Oceania research vessel. The device is the ARVOR-I type with the Iridium transmission system and will perform standard CTD measurements.
The float was deployed under the EU MOCCA project - more information on the project website.
On May 21, 2023, the Baltic float WMO 3902110 launched by IOPAN in 2020 within the Bornholm Basin was recovered by IOPAN north-east of Gotland island. The float has been taking measurements for three years, since May 27, 2020.
During this time, it sent 500 complete hydrographic data sets (CTD, O2).
Photos: Iwona Niedźwiecka
Marginal Seas Argo DMQC workshop
The Argo-Poland, Argo-Germany and Argo-Finland consortia working together in the European Research Infrastructure Consortium Euro-Argo ERIC are organizing a two-day workshop 'Marginal Seas Argo Delayed Mode Quality Check',
which will take place at the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot, on April 18-19, 2023.
The workshop is free of charge and will be conducted in hybrid mode, in English.
If you are interested, please submit your accession and questions to: ArgoPoland@iopan.pl
On February 22, 2023, during a standard hydrodynamic cruise, IO PAN recovered the Argo float (WMO 3902115) from the area of the Słupsk Furrow.
The float was deployed from the board of r/v Oceania in mid-June 2021 in the Bornholm Basin. The goal of the mission was to keep the float in a limited area and use it as a virtual mooring.
The float was active for over a year and a half in 2-day cycles. During this time, the device transmitted 310 complete hydrographic data sets (CTD, O2).
After recovering, it was transported to the Bornholm Basin and after assigning a new WMO 3902117 number, redeployed.
Photos: Daniel Rak
At the end of July 2022 one Argo float (WMO 3902116) was deployed in the Greenland Sea from the board of r/v Oceania. The instrument is the ARVOR-I float with Iridium transmission system.
In addition to standard CTD measurements, the float also takes measurements of dissolved oxygen.
Photos: Violetta Drozdowska
During the AREX 2021 cruise seven Argo floats were launched by IOPAN from the board of r/v Oceania. Four floats belong to Germany, three to Argo Poland.
In June, one Polish float (WMO 3902115) was deployed in the Baltic Sea and two floats in the Nordic Seas. The first float was launched in the Bornholm Basin.
The second float (WMO 3902113) was launched in the Storfjordrenna.
The target of the mission was to keep the float on the shelf and use it as a virtual mooring to observe dense, cold bottom water that inflow from the Storfjord to the Norwegian Sea. The third float (WMO 3902114) was deployed in the Norwegian Sea in the West Spitsbergen Current region.
In addition to standard CTD measurements, the floats also take measurements of dissolved oxygen.
Photos: Agnieszka Strzelewicz, Przemysław Makuch
15.06.2021 Today r/v Oceania set sail from the Port of Gdansk on an almost three-month Arctic cruise - AREX2021. The ship is sailing towards the Arctic Mediterranean, where two Polish and four German floats will be deployed.
On the way, the third Polish float in the Baltic Sea will be launched.
Photos: Agata Grynczel, Małgorzata Merchel
8-9.04.2021 - As part of the Euro-Argo RISE project, IO PAN & FMI will organise a Baltic and Arctic Argo online workshop.
The first day will be devoted to the general Argo floats knowledge. During the second day there will be two two-hour sessions covering the subject of Argo in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic.
We invite participants from the Baltic and Arctic communities, that are interested in using Argo data or engaging with Argo activities to join the workshop.
December 1, 2020 - the Baltic float WMO3902106 launched by IOPAN in 2018 within the Bornholm Basin was recovered by the Estonian vessel R/V Salme north of the island of Hiiumma. We thank Estonian friends for their help in this difficult operation. This is the next, important stage of cooperation in the Baltic Sea. The float has been taking measurements for over two years, since September 11, 2018. During this time, it made 420 profiles, providing valuable CTD/O2 data. Also, examining the condition of the float (batteries, sensors) will certainly be a valuable contribution to the EA RISE program
- more information on the project website.
Photos: Villu Kikas
At the beginning of July 2020 two Argo floats (WMO 3902111, 3902112) were deployed in the Nordic Seas from the board of r/v Oceania. The instruments are the ARVOR-I floats with Iridium transmission system. One of the floats (WMO 3902112), in addition to standard CTD measurements, will also measure dissolved oxygen in sea water.
Photos: Kajetan Deja, Agnieszka Strzelewicz
At the end of May and beginning of June, two Argo floats (WMO 3902110, 3902109) were deployed from the board of r/v Oceania. The first float was launched in the Bornholm Basin.
In addition to standard CTD measurements, it will also take measurements of dissolved oxygen.
The second float was launched within the EA RISE project in the Gulf of Gdańsk
- more information on the project website.
Photos: Krzysztof Rutkowski, Daniel Rak
28 - 30 January 2020 - Arvor-Provor Float Technical Workshop, Brest, France (more information here).
22 - 23 June 2019 - two Argo floats (WMO 3902107, 3902108) were launched in the Nordic Seas from the board of r/v Oceania. The instruments are the ARVOR-I floats with Iridium transmission system.
On 1 January 2019, the Euro-Argo RISE (Euro-Argo Research Infrastructure Sustainability and Enhancement) project was started. This is the H2020 EU project financed under the grant No. 824131, which will last 4 years. The Euro-Argo RISE project involves 19 partners from all over Europe (including IO PAN) and is coordinated by Euro-Argo ERIC (more information here).
At the end of June 2018 three Argo floats (WMO 3902105, 3902102, 3902103) were deployed in the Nordic Seas from the board of r/v Oceania. All instruments are the ARVOR-I floats with Iridium transmission system.
Photos: Waldemar Walczowski, Małgorzata Merchel
31 May 2018 the Argo float (WMO 3902104) was deployed in the Baltic Sea from the board of r/v Oceania. The instrument is the ARVOR-I float with Iridium transmission system.
6 February 2018 After the necessary tests, IO PAN launched the first Argo float this year. The float was deployed from r/v Oceania in the Bornholm Basin. The device is the ARVOR-I type with the Iridium data transmission system.
Photos: Małgorzata Merchel
January 2018 3 Argo Mocca floats were deployed from the Katharsis II during the cruise around Antarctica. The floats were launched near 60°S by the professor of the Institute Oceanology PAS Piotr Kuklinski
(more information here).
Photos: Katharsis II. Wyprawa Dookoła Antarktydy wzdłuż 60°S
20 - 21 September 2017 - two Argo floats (WMO 3901940, 3901941) were launched in the Baltic Sea from the board of r/v Oceania. This year, these are the next two floats that were launched within the EU MOCCA project. The instruments are the ARVOR-I floats with Iridium transmission system.
At the end of June 2017 two Argo floats (WMO 3901910, 3901911) were deployed in the Norwegian Sea from the board of r/v Oceania. All instruments are the ARVOR-I floats with Iridium transmission system. The floats were deployed within the EU MOCCA project read more information
Photos: Agnieszka Beszczyńska-Möller
15 March 2017- IO PAN re-deployed the Argo float, which was recovered this February from the Baltic Sea. The float was launched from the board of r/v Oceania in the Slupsk Furrow. The instrument is the APEX float with Iridium transmission system.
03 February 2017 - another Polish float was launched in the Baltic Sea from the board of r/v Oceania. The instrument is the APEX float with Iridium transmission system.
Photos: Małgorzata Merchel
01 February 2017 - IO PAN recovered Argo test float, which was launched two months ago near the Bornholm Deep.
Photos: Małgorzata Merchel
29 November 2016 - from the board of r/v Oceania the first Polish Argo float in the Baltic Sea was deployed. The instrument is the APEX float with Iridium transmission system. Poland is the second country in the world (after Finland), which deploy Argo floats in the Baltic Sea.
Photos: Małgorzata Merchel
We tested our first Baltic Argo float at the end of October 2016. The tests were conducted in the pool of the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, in the Department of Underwater Work Technologies. The tests came out successful, so we are ready for launching the float during the November cruise of r/v Oceania.
Film: Adam Olejnik
Photos: Małgorzata Merchel
Two Argo floats (WMO 3901850, 3901851) were deployed in the Norwegian Sea from the board of r/v Oceania at the end of June 2016. All instruments are the ARVOR-I floats with Iridium transmission system. Both floats were deployed under the EU MOCCA project read more information
Photos: Wojciech Głodek
5th Euro-argo User Workshop will take place in Ifremer, Brest, 16-17 March 2015 - see the website. Abstract submission deadline is 15th December.
On 12th May 2014, Euro-Argo ERIC was officially awarded the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). Poland became a founding member among 9 other countries (France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Finland).
IO PAS is a co-organizer of the special sessions on High Latitudes during the "4th Euro-Argo Science Meeting and Workshop on the Arctic and sub-Polar North Atlantic" which will take place in the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK, on 18-20 June 2013.
